Gas-generator apparatus for producing combustible gases.



. G. MARGONNET. (ms GENERATOR APPARATUS FOR rnonnome OOMBUSTIBLE GASES.

APPLIOATIOI PILBD HOV. 27,1006.

OOmL 9m 1B 9 F T HE E m dun m n m P INVENTOR G.. MABGONNBT. I GAS GENERATOR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GOMBUSTIBLE GASES.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 27, 1905.

909,920. Patented Jan.19,1909.

I E i V q U WA N I i J v a /IV I 1 L I I A k Q W g afi R. I

By M e.

" 2'. consists in treating the combustible, not in resultant mass.

.- manner. and in burning it rapidly at the tained by an improved method of feeding PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES MARCONNET, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

GAS-GENERATOR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COMBUSTIBLE GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed November 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 289,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGES MAnooNNnr, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, France, have invented Improvements in and Relating to Gas-Generator Apparatus for Producing Combustible Gases, of which the following is a specification.

In gas enerator apparatus for the-production of combustible gases (mixtures of oxid of carbon and-of hydrogen) the charge of coal and the supply of air necessary to ctnnbustion are supplied separately. This charging-of coal is generally effected at intervals more or less apart at the upper part of the apparatus while the air arrives'at another point in a continuousmanner; the combustion which is thereupon produced is slow and proceeds at a relatively low' temperature. W'hen in this Way there is sup plied to a gas generating chamber a considerable quantity of coal the different parts of this combustible first become heated by conductibility and then distillation and combustion are. produced. The different parts of the combustible in contact being at increasing temperatures the result is that when they contain vitrifiable portions they easily become stuck together or to the walls of the chamber and so hinder the free delivery of air to the apparatus. If on the contrary the combustible is rich in cin ders these also hinder the regular aftlux of air, and, finally, if the combustible contains a large proportion of hydrocarbons these are not completely decomposed because they have'been submitted for too short a time to a high temperature in the presence of oxygen. Furthermore a gas generator operating in such av manner cannot be fed with a com-. bustible in the state of fine dust, that is to say a comparatively cheap combustible, because the necessary air cannot traverse the The principle of the present invention a slow "manner with intermittent charging and at a relatively low temperature, but in charging it in an automatically contrnuous highest practical temperature which it may be possible to attain. These results are obcarbon and air differing completely from those employed up to the present'time; by

this improved feeding method the reaction I is performed efiiciently and at a very high temperature.

The gas generator is fed by means of an alllux of air which acts as a vehicle for also conveying a given quantity of pulverulent coal; this constant mixture of air to support combustion and combustible arrives in a continuous manner into the apparatus in such a way that the combustion of the molecules of carbon in presence of the air is so to speak instantaneous; it results therefrom that the combustion is extremely rapid and that a very high temperature is produced.

The coal is first reduced to impalpable powder by any appropriate process.

By way of' illustration Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of one ofthe forms of application which permits. of clearly explaining the principle above set forth. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views indicating other forms which will be hereinafter more particularly referred to. y

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a casing A of refractory bricks or of metal, resting upon a foundation B; a tubular outlet- G for the combustible gases and a charging orifice D closed by a cover (Z are arranged at the upper part. In the chamber A is a mass of combustible in lumps K. At a'certain pointor points of the base B are placed one or more nozzles H connected to the pipe P and leading the mixture of determined proportions of air and of coal dust in suspension therein to the chamber.

The zone M in which this mixture arrives is previously brought to a high temperature su'ilicient to assure the ignition of the mixture of air and coal dust. The zone M rapidly becomes incandescent and there is produced combustion between the air and the powdered coal, the resulting gases emerging by the outlet C. It is a mixture 20 a Fig. 2 of theaccompanying drawi the column of lum combustible simply set-- ing as a mass in w ich thezone of very high temperature is im ri'soned. At the same time the column of ump combustible assures the complete decomposition into pxid pf carbonof the gases resultingflfrom an we sufliciently well regulated combustion ofthe coal dust.

It will be understood thus upon the pulverulent materials thecombustion is instantaneous and that considerable- "of him time o quantifies of coal can be burned in a confined s ace, an extremely high temperature being f v1s a fee t ereby produced. 'By reason also of this very high temperature it 1s possible, if desired, to entire y dispense with the column Y refractory chamber in such a way as to .one end 0 her is located a pipe B supplying the ture of air and coal dust. Communicating with the o posite art ofthe chamber 1s f a pipe the other end of which terminates at a chimney H likewise formed of refractory material.

To set the apparatus working the cover 13' is lifted and any suitable combustible such as wood or coal is ignited in the chamber A, combustion bei accelerated by first causin air to arrive, y the pipe B and then air 4 ho ding in suspension coa 'ture ignites and continues to burn heatmgdust. The mixthe walls of the chamber A which so rapidly attain a very high temperature.

By regulating the respective quantities of air and coal it is possible to readily insure that the gases emerging from the chimney contain nothing but oxid of carbon and hydrogen.

The temperature of certain parts of the apparatus 1s carried to about 2000 so that the carbonic acid which might be produced is decomposed, the equivalent oxygen liberated reforming oxidof carbon in the presence of theunburned coal, in such a way that onl oxid of carbon and hydrogen emerge om the chimney.

In the two arrangements above described the mixture of air and coal in owder may be led into the combustion chamber either by suction'or by forcing at the same time as a i by any a propriate arrangement.

certain quantity ofvapor of Water destined to enrich the gas in hydrogen.

The temperature obtained in the zone of combustion is such that the cinders of the combustible are brought to complete fusion and are run oil" at the base of the a aratus urthermore tot e coal powder may be added such combustible and to burnthe air and coal dust directly ma 7 fusing material that will facilitate the pro- I duction of thefluidity of the natural elements. of the cinders. q The combustible gas obtained v esses abovedeiscribed may serve,- by

by the procit with aconvenient quantity of ai'r,"for the feeding of agas motor, for the @heating P 1 1?! 583- i a 1g. Birepresents another construction of apparatus or the application 'of the improved feeding meth e is a hopper containing the powdered coal, screw. in the opper operated by means of bevel ear wheels 72. which are driven from .a p le 11:. mounted upon the shaft is. The spec of this shaft may be suitable means.

.of 1 boilers or -forany other'heatingcor lighting re atedby an i dtation of the screw f causes the powdered coal to fall in quantity according to the rate of rotation of the screw. This rain of coal falls u on a plate 0 that is jointed:

at d it then shdes upon the plate and falls off its lower edge in front of the suction orifice b of a blower a.

By moving the plate 0 nearer a more vertical osition the falling shower of coal is broug t nearer the orifice of the pipe I; and by moving itinto a osition nearer the horizontal, the fall of t ecoal takes place at a greater d stance from the extrenuty of the pigalp.

en the blower is actuated it draws in by the pipe b both air and coal dust. The quantity of coal dust drawn in is greater or less as the plate is moved nearer to or further from a vertical position. For afixedquantity of air drawn in by the blower it is therefore possible to cause to be drawn in thereby an accurate of coal dust, and consequently so ad ust the working that the air drawn in carries exactly thequantity of coal necessary to insure that under the action of combustion there shall be produced only oxid of carbon. The quantity of air drawn in by the blower ly measured .q uantity is moreover capable of regulation either by a throttling device in the. orifice of the pipe I) or in a more desirable manner b va the number of revolutions which t e blower makes. For this purpose there ispreferably employed a blower worked by an electric motor of variable speed.

The mixture of air and coal dust is forced from the blower into a pipe Q which opens into an inclined passage A' of refractory material.

At the commencement of an operation, for the first starting of this 'gas generator, the cover It is raised and some small pieces-of lighted wood are placed on thesmall hearth S. The coal dust coming in contact with the fire on this small hearth takes fire and forms a blowpi e flame which extends intothe ipe and also, if the glass is too cold to run easily,

' portion of the flue A Z passes up through the tion are oxid of carbon-along with hydrogen I coming from the combustion of the hydrocarbons. The temperature rapidly becomes elevated which helps to decom ose into oxid of carbon the carbonic acid which has nevertheless been able to form since the start of the combustion. Under the action of this, very high temperature the scoriae, slag and i clinkers fuse, run down upon the inclined l base of the flue AZ and collect at the lower art U against the door B in the form of a iquid glass. The scoriae are discharged every six or eight hours by opening the door B, the glass then running out by gravity, and the apparatus is then again ready for another equal period of working. During this cleaning out, which lasts on an average less than a minute, the blower is stopped. It very rarely happens that the glass does not completely run out, it may however in such cases be assisted to come out with a fire iron,

air and coal maybe blown in with the blower while leaving the door B open. There is then formed at Ba violent jet of flame which heats up the glass and facilitates its flowing.

With rich hydrocarbons there is obtained a good gas rather rich in hydrogen; but if with hydrocarbons less rich it is desired to yet obtain hydrogen, a fine jet of steam is delivered into the apparatus by a pipe X which is furnished with a controlling cock NV.

The oxid of carbon arriving at the lower passage G into the chamber D. The comustion is completed in the chamber D and from the chamber there opens a producer chamber M likewise of refractory material. In the chamberM there is piled up a column of coke L which acts as a decarburizing column in cases where, owing to bad regulation, the gas might yet contain an appreciable pros portion of carbonic acid. The coke is kept in a red hot state by thegases of the combustion. Finally the poor gas produced escapes by the conduit N to supply say am0 tor, passing through a cooler and a washer. It is preferable to employ as a washer a blower having water injection; this blower will also facilitate by its suction the passage of the poor gas through the column of coke L.

At the commencement of the operation, whenthe gas generator is not yet hot enough there is left unburned coke dust which may obstruct the interstices between the pieces of coke. To obviate this inconvenience the gases are exhausted through an auxiliary pipe F by raising the cover G when the apparatus is first started.

It is nevertheless important at all times that the column of coke L be red at the moment when the apparatus, being hot, it is desired to utilize the gas, so that this column may immediately play the part of a decarburizer for which itis intended. To attain this object there is opened, at the moment of commencing to utilize the gas a side pipe .7 which communicates with the outer air and by which an aspiration of fresh air is produced which effects the lighting of the coke column.

During the working of the gas generator the state of the gas may be tested by raising the conical plug K of the pipe ll from which there then issues immediately a jet of gas which ignites. Finally, the door E serves for the exit of clinkers which may accumulate below the coke column, and the door I permits the removal of cinders or clinker-s which may be deposited adjacent to the hearth S.

The entire masonry constituting this ap paratus is inclosedin a metalliceasing from which it is separated by an insulating body so as toefi'ectually prevent radiation from the apparatus.

iVhat- I claim is 1. Ingas producing apparatus a chamber of refractory material, a downwardly inclined flue in communication with said chamber, an upwardly inclined flue communicating with said downwardly inclined fine, a coke chamber with which said upwardly inclined flue communicates, a gas outlet from said coke chamber, means for feeding adjustable quantities of coal dust and air to said chamber of refractory material and means for removing vitreous residues from the lower portion of said downwardly inclined flue, substantially as set forth.

2. In gas producing apparatus, a chamber of refractory material, a downwardly inclined flue in communication with said chamber, an upwardly inclined flue communicating with said downwardly inclined flue, a cokechamber with which said upwar'dly inclined flue communicates, a gas outlet from said coke chamber, a blower for forcing air and coal dust into said chamber of refractory material, and means for removingvitreous residues from the lower portion of said downwardly inclined flue, substantially as set forth.

3. In gas producing apparatus, a chamber of refractory material, a downwardly inclined flue in communication with said chamber, an upwardly inclined flue communicating with said downwardly inclined fiuc, a coke chamber with which said upwardly inclined flue'eommunieates, a gas outlet from said coke chamber, a blower adapted to deliver air into said chamber of refractory material, an inclined plate located above the air inlet of said blower. in such position that powdered material dropping off the lower edge of said plate falls opposite the mouth of the air inlet of said blower in the path of the air, means for delivering coal dust onto said plate, and means for removing vitreous residues from the lower portion of 13L asst' forth.-

4. ,In gas producing apparatus, a chamber said downwardly inclined flue, substantially of refractory material, .a downwardly inclined flue in communication with said chamber, an upwardly inclined flue communicating with said downwardly inclined flue, a co e chamber with which said upwardly inclined flue communicates, a as outlet from said coke chamber, a rotary lower ada ted to deliver air into said chamber of .re actory material, means for adjusting the speed of said blower, a hopper for owdered fuel above said plate, means for elivering con-v of said hopper, a rotary blower the inlet to which is located opposite powdered fuel falling from the lower edge of said plate, a combustion chamber into which said blower is adapted to deliver a charge of powdered'fuel an adj ust-' Witnesses: n

auspicand air, means for supplying fuel into said chamber when starting the apparatus, a

downwardly inclined flue leading from said chamber, a door closed assage at the lower end of'said downwar y inclined flue, an

upwardly inclined flue'communicating at itsv lower end with the lower end of said downwardly inclined flue, a vertically extending chamber adapted to contain a column of coke communicating at its lower end with the upper end of saidupwardly inclined flue, a gas outlet conduit at the upper end of said vertical chamber, a door closed clinker re wardly inclined flue, an auxiliarygas outlet passage from said upwardly extending flue, a small plug controlled passage through which gas from said upwardly extendingflue can be withdrawn for testing, and an air Y inlet passage. to saidu wardly extending flue, substantiall as set orth.

Signed at Paris, of November 1905.

GEORGES 'Manooimnr.

EMILE BERT, H. C. Coxna' France this sixteenth daymoving passage at the lower end of said up- 

